Best Law Firms in Toronto, ON for Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law

CHAITONS LLP | www.chaitons.com | T: +1 416 222 8888 | F: +1 416 222 8402 

Number of partners: 11

Number of lawyers: 22

Languages: English 

Firm Overview: 

Based in Toronto, Canada, Chaitons LLP has a substantial lending and recovery practice that has been involved in a significant number of the largest restructuring and receivership proceedings in Canada including cross-border proceedings.  Chaitons is also well-known for its litigation, finance/M&A and commercial real estate practices.  Its clients range across a broad spectrum and include Canadian and foreign banks, capital corporations, private equity firms, asset-based lenders and distressed lenders.  The firm was formed in 1983, and has become a leader in providing quality service and effective solutions for its clients in workout, restructuring and enforcement proceedings, commercial litigation, and a broad range of financing transactions, including traditional corporate lending, asset-based financing, equity, structured finance, term lending, mezzanine financing and debtor-in-possession financing. 

Main Areas of Practice: 

Insolvency/ Restructuring: 

Recent engagements include representing:        

• Indenture trustee in the Lightstream CCAA proceedings
• Senior secured lender and DIP lender in the Comstock CCAP proceedings
• Receiver in the cross-border Syncapse receivership proceedings including sale of business to a public company
• Purchaser of cross-border business and assets of iMarketing Solutions Group
• Monitor of New Solutions Financial Corporation, a distressed lender with over $220 million of secured debt
• Purchaser of assets in the Talon Systems group of companies insolvency proceedings
• Indenture trustee in the Hollinger CCAA proceeding
• Indenture trustee in the Catalyst Paper CCAA proceeding
• Indenture trustee in the NewPage CCAA proceeding
• Indenture trustee in the Sino Forest CCAA proceeding
• US Chapter 7 trustee in pension priority dispute in the Indalex CCAA proceeding, which was argued before the Supreme Court of Canada
• Purchaser of the Gorham Paper Mill from Fraser Papers in its CCAA and Ch. 11 proceedings
• Purchaser of assets in the NewPage CCAA proceeding
• CCAA Monitor of Gandi Innovation and related entities in their CCAA and Ch 15 proceedings and the sale of the business to Agfa
• Nexient, a leading Canadian provider of corporate and public training services, in its CCAA proceeding and the sale of the business to Global Knowledge
• Clothing for Modern Times, a national clothing retailer, in its restructuring under the CCAA
• Several different stakeholders in the Nortel restructuring proceedings
• Court-appointed monitors, receivers and trustees in bankruptcy in numerous Canadian insolvency proceedings 

Contact:   Harvey Chaiton | 416 218 1129  | harvey@chaitons.com 

Litigation: 

Chaitons’ broad commercial litigation practice includes expertise in matters related to insolvency, creditor enforcement of security, shareholder and partnership disputes, commercial disputes, contractual issues, real estate litigation and construction litigation.

Contact:   Stephen Schwartz | 416 218 1132 | stephen@chaitons.com    

Finance/M&A: 

Chaitons’ Corporate Law Group provides a wide range of transaction-based corporate services to its clients, with an emphasis on financings, mergers and acquisitions and business arrangements.  We represent lenders and investors across a full spectrum of financings including in respect of senior, subordinated and mezzanine financings, as well as asset-based, distress and debtor-in-possession lending.

Recent engagements include representing clients in respect of:

• Acquisition of asset management group having assets under management in excess of $500 million
• Acquisition by a TSX-listed corporation of one of Canada’s pre-eminent mid-market lenders
• Acquisition and financing by a Canadian merchant bank of a leading Canadian manufacturer of machined products 

Contact:   Philip Taylor | 416 218 1125  |  philip@chaitons.com

Commercial Real Estate:  

Chaitons has a general commercial real estate practice with specialty in condominium development (including resort and fractional ownership), seniors housing development, leasing and acquisitions and divestures of income producing properties.

Contact:   Robert A Miller | 416 218 1134 | robert@chaitons.com

About Gardiner Roberts
Founded in the 1920s, Gardiner Roberts LLP is a full-service law firm representing a bespoke client base which includes major banks, municipalities, government entities, entrepreneurs, tech and growth companies, real estate developers, lenders, investors, innovative and community leading businesses and organizations.

A number of our lawyers have enjoyed in-house corporate positions and been appointed as board members of tribunals or as judges. Our diversified practice allows us to provide solutions and advice to clients from virtually every industry.

Business and Corporate Commercial
The Business and Corporate Commercial Group emphasizes an entrepreneurial approach to the implementation of client strategies. Where required, the lawyers in the Business Practices Group work closely with the firm's tax, real estate and intellectual property lawyers to provide the breadth a

Whether it be the local move of a shipment of goods or a complex international supply chain matter, the members of the Transportation and Logistics Group are uniquely qualified to serve your business interests. Recognized both internationally and throughout Canada, our team members are well suited to assist your business, navigate the particular risks and challenges in the movement of goods and passengers all while the industry continues to evolve. These risks and challenges become even more acute as different regulatory regimes and foreign laws advance. 

Our team members routinely advise clients across a full range of legal issues in the supply chain and passenger trades, including shippers, manufacturers, internet based “fulfillment” distributors, sellers, buyers, carriers, cargo and legal liability insurers, freight forwarders and intermediaries, customs brokers and warehouse operators. In providing these services, our team draws on industry leading expertise in the local and international carriage of goods and passengers by truck, ocean, rail and air. 

Our expertise extends beyond the provision of front-end “risk management and avoidance” advice in the nature of commercial transactions, regulatory compliance and contracting review due diligence at the front end, to the representation of clients and their insurers in litigation or arbitration matters in the event of a transit loss or casualty.

Commercial Real Estate and Municipal
The Commercial Real Estate and Municipal Group reflects a breadth of legal skills, including knowledge of real estate, financing, tax, partnerships and syndication, landlord and tenant, and commercial law. Acting for a wide range of clients including municipal governments and agencies, builders and developers, landlords and tenants, public and private corporations, we have developed a wealth of expertise which is continuously enlarged and enhanced in daily practice.

Financial Services
The Financial Services Group integrates the expertise of our corporate/commercial counsel with our tax, restructuring and insolvency and real estate experts and our seasoned dispute resolution lawyers to provide coherent and seamless advice on all aspects of a transaction.

Health Law
The Health Law Group is dedicated to protecting and promoting the rights and interests of health care professionals and providers at all levels, and are known throughout the health care industry as professional rights advocates. The group acts for institutions, professional associations, nursing homes, laboratories and all manner of business and institutions within the health care industry.

Insolvency and Restructuring
Insolvency and Restructuring Services involve a coordinated response to imminent or actual financial distress situations starting from the formulation of a plan of action to its implementation and completion. As well, our restructuring lawyers engage with the other practice area specialists within the firm when needed to provide an integrated response to financial crisis.

Litigation and Dispute Resolution
The Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group is comprised of a number of highly experienced litigators. Our lawyers have been involved in a wide variety of litigious commercial issues including corporate restructuring, class actions, competition, asset recovery, injunctions, professional negligence, and insolvency. Our lawyers are not only experienced in court and tribunal proceedings but also arbitration, mediation and other forms of dispute resolution. We have represented corporate and individual clients at both the trial and appellate levels in federal and provincial courts and before regulatory and administrative tribunals in both Canada and the United States.

Non-Profit and Charities
Non-profit organizations require a broad range of legal skills at their disposal, including knowledge of corporate, trust, tax, business, real estate, intellectual property, contract, commercial and dispute resolution law. Accordingly, the Gardiner Roberts Non-Profit and Charitable Organizations Group includes lawyers from our Business Practices, Tax and Estate Planning, Technology and Intellectual Property, Real Estate and Municipal and Dispute Resolution groups.

Securities and Corporate Finance
Securities regulation is evolving at an accelerating pace. From satisfying continuous disclosure requirements and ensuring compliance with good corporate governance practices to structuring a significant transaction, you need experienced professionals to guide you through the complex and often inconsistent mine field that is securities regulation in Canada. Ours is a practical business-oriented approach to securities regulation and corporate finance in the context of your business. We work closely with our clients to provide you with a full range of pragmatic business and legal advice to help you make informed, strategic decisions going forward.

Tax and Estate Planning
Our tax specialists combine technical proficiency with a strong working knowledge of business issues, from structuring limited partnerships to negotiating complex buy/sell transactions. We assist clients with the broad issues of corporate structure, trade, finance, tax appeals, corporate and individual tax planning, and estate and succession planning. The Tax and Estate Planning Group also provides tax expertise to lawyers and accountants at other firms that do not have tax specialists.

Technology and Intellectual Property
The Intellectual Property and Technology Group is able to provide expert advice in financing all stages of research, development rights protection, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements, with customized programs that deliver solid results while remaining sensitive to the client's financial concerns.

Transportation and Logistics
Whether it be the local move of a shipment of goods or a complex international supply chain matter, the members of the Transportation and Logistics Group are uniquely qualified to serve your business interests. Recognized both internationally and throughout Canada, our team members are well suited to assist your business, navigate the particular risks and challenges in the movement of goods and passengers all while the industry continues to evolve. These risks and challenges become even more acute as different regulatory regimes and foreign laws advance. 

Our team members routinely advise clients across a full range of legal issues in the supply chain and passenger trades, including shippers, manufacturers, internet based “fulfillment” distributors, sellers, buyers, carriers, cargo and legal liability insurers, freight forwarders and intermediaries, customs brokers and warehouse operators. In providing these services, our team draws on industry leading expertise in the local and international carriage of goods and passengers by truck, ocean, rail and air. 

Our expertise extends beyond the provision of front-end “risk management and avoidance” advice in the nature of commercial transactions, regulatory compliance and contracting review due diligence at the front end, to the representation of clients and their insurers in litigation or arbitration matters in the event of a transit loss or casualty.

Gowling WLG is an international law firm built on the belief that the best way to serve you is to be in tune with your world, aligned with your opportunity and ambitious for your success. With more than 1,500 legal professionals around the world, we provide our clients with in-depth knowledge in key global sectors and a suite of legal services at home and abroad. We see the world through our clients' eyes, and collaborate across countries, offices, service areas and sectors to help them succeed, no matter how challenging the circumstances.

Brief History

With roots tracing back to 1887, Gowling WLG grew to become one of the largest and most respected law firms in Canada, with a reputation for innovation in client-focused service delivery.

Building on its early strength in intellectual property, Gowling WLG diversified to offer a full suite of business law, litigation and intellectual property services in all of Canada’s key industries, including energy, mining, financial services, government, infrastructure, manufacturing, life sciences and technology.

Loopstra Nixon LLP is a client-focused law firm helping businesses, institutions, and individuals navigate legal and business matters across Canada. Our lawyers work collaboratively to provide practical legal advice and responsive service tailored to each client’s needs.

Our team brings together a broad range of experience across multiple areas of law, allowing clients to access support for both day-to-day matters and complex legal issues. We take a practical and forward-thinking approach, helping clients address challenges, manage risk, and pursue opportunities with confidence.

Our key practice areas include banking and financial services, business law, litigation & dispute resolution, municipal, land use planning & development, real estate, labour & employment, technology & intellectual property, and bankruptcy, insolvency & restructuring.

Loopstra Nixon is the Canadian affiliate of LawExchange International, a network of independent law firms supporting middle-market and entrepreneurial businesses across Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Australia. Through this affiliation, our clients benefit from access to legal connections in 23 countries.

Founded in Toronto by Charles Loopstra and Sandy Nixon, the firm began in a small storefront office and has grown alongside the clients and communities it serves. In 2022, Loopstra Nixon marked its 50th year in practice. The firm continues to build on the values established by its founders, including hard work, entrepreneurial thinking, and a strong commitment to client relationships.

Today, Loopstra Nixon continues to support clients with practical legal guidance and a collaborative approach focused on long-term success.